My personal take having had each... Each of these has a different usage.
The notebook will, if chosen well, do the task of a desktop. If you have a desktop already, the notebook might not serve you well unless you need full power of windows XP or Vista while on the road. Smartphones use some version of windows CE (Pocket PC). They let you manage all office type functions (documents,spreadsheets,databases,files/folders) and sync your life (contacts,favorites,files,calendar,etc.) with aplomb. If served with wifi, they can give you internet on the road. If served with a cellphone data plan, they can give you secure internet, internet on the road. They can hook you up to a business server. All these hookups cost money. A PDA is a smartphone without the phone. Can sync with your computer when you are near it by wire or wifi or bluetooth or infrared. Some items call themselves "smartphones" ...like the fruit ones, but have proprietary software that is not Microsoft windowsCE based. They work well for some people too. Some of their services cost extra. Then, there's the issue of the keyboard. If you need it, get one that has one in it that is easy to use for you. Make a careful list of what you need to do with it. Lugging a laptop when you could just as well carry a smartphone in your pocket may be a factor. ...see what the other guys say here!! -----Original Message----- From: Ranbo [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 10:33 PM Subject: Laptop vs. Notebook (maybe vs. PDA or smartphone)? I have an opportunity to get either a laptop or notebook for free (up to some dollar amount) through a program. It probably has to be a PC. So wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the pros and cons of laptops vs. notebooks, especially anyone who has used both. To now throw in one more variable, if the main or ostensible purpose of the notebook or laptop is to help one be organized in order to work, and if it would be possible to get a PDA (or maybe a smart phone), which, if any, of these devices (laptop, notebook, PDA or maybe smartphone) would be best for helping one get and stay organized, both at home, at work and in other situations, like running errands? That is, I might have the option of getting a PDA or maybe smartphone instead of laptop or notebook, but only ONE of these. I'm also thinking that if I can get one of these paid for, maybe best move is to get the most expensive, e.g. perhaps a laptop, and buy the other, e.g. PDA, myself. I can't afford to buy both or even, really, a laptop. Thanks and hope this isn't too confusing a question or set of questions Randall ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
